A nature based tourism operator from the Western Isles is teaming up with a Swedish counterpart to offer a week long sea kayaking adventure to the Gulf of Bothnia in Lapland in August.

The businesses linked up through their involvement in a major three year initiative to develop nature based tourism in north west Europe, part funded by the EU's Northern Periphery Programme (NPP). The international partnership behind the project includes public and private sector organisations in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Scotland. The Scottish partnership, led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), also involves Visit Scotland, the Tourism and Environment Forum, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The businesses and organisations are working with their counterparts in the other countries, on a programme that will cover market research, product development and international networking.

Tim Pickering and Anna Murray of Adventure Hebrides are working with Love Rynbäck of CreActive Adventure in Sweden to deliver the package, which will involve an exploration of the incredible archipelagos in Sub Artic Luleå in the Gulf of Bothnia, Lapland. The Archipelago extends to some 800 islands from the Västerbotten border to the Finish border in the north. The sub arctic experience with the light summer nights gives a great way to explore the rich and untouched wildlands.

Tim said: "It is very exciting to be able to make links with other businesses not only to develop products but to talk about how we work." SNH's tourism officer, Steve Hunt, added: "This is precisely the sort of collaboration that this project aims to encourage. There is huge potential to develop the nature based tourism sector in this part of Europe in a way that is economically and environmentally sustainable. That's why this project was set up. By bringing our own nature based tourism operators together with similar businesses in Scandinavia, and encouraging them to work together on product development and marketing, we have a great opportunity to realise that potential. This recent collaboration between these two dynamic operators is a direct result of the Project and is just an example of what can be achieved. We wish them well in their new venture."

As part of his business's commitment to the environment, Tim also recently completed the Leave No Trace Master Educators course, held in Wester Ross in March. The 'outdoor ethics' event was also organised as part of the project for people who are actively teaching others the skills and ethics of sustainable use of wildlands or providing recreation information to the public. It is recognised in the outdoor industry throughout the world and successful graduates have the ability to train others in Leave No Trace skills as well as facilitate trainer courses.

Commenting on the course Tim said it made him "reassess the business's effect on the environment and helped to develop ways of education my clients to minimise their impact."

Further Information

• Nature Tourism Project Website
• Adventure Hebrides
• Scottish Natural Heritage